Table of Contents
Cold Sore Remedies
DISCLAIMER
Our readers offer information and opinions on Earth Clinic, not as a substitute for professional medical prevention, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult with your physician, pharmacist, or health care provider before taking any home remedies or supplements or following any treatment suggested by anyone on this site. Only your health care provider, personal physician, or pharmacist can provide you with advice on what is safe and effective for your unique needs or diagnose your particular medical history.
13 YEA
1 BETTER BUT NOT CURED
[YEA] 08/04/2009: Jg from Oakland, California writes: "First of all I would like to thank all of you who've shared your experiences and comments. Last Thursday night I felt some tingling around my mouth so I decided to go and get some Abreva, (silly me). I went to bed hoping it would not get one. The next morning I woke up with some small blisters on the top corner of my lip, (I had to call in sicked). By Friday afternoon the blisters had spread to my side of my mouth and it was now almost now the size of a quarter. This was the first time I had a sore that big. I was desperate and didn't know what to do. I could not show up to work on monday with a sore that big.
That's when I decided to do some internet research and I ran into this site! I read on some of your Hydrogen peroxide success stories and decided to try it. I had my wife go to the store and get a small bottle of it. I poked the blisters with a needle and then held a cotton ball soaked in Peroxide for as long as I could. I then, covered the soar with a ___ ( you can find this at you local pharmacy) this is a gel. The gel will harden and won't let the soar get any air. (the virus can't continue to grow without air). After a few hours I carefully remove the gel by rubbing peroxide on it. I repeated this process every 3 to 4 hours throughout the day. Did the same thing all day Saturday. By Sunday night, All I had was a scab. I put some chap stick on the hard scab to make it soft and remove it. Monday morning, I used some on my wife's make up to cover the redness of my skin. You could hardly tell I had something there. This is the quickest I've been able to get rid of a cold sore! Thanks to you all!!"
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[YEA] 06/23/2009: Amber from Washington, DC writes: "I had never gotten cold sores before and this was the first time. It was horrible i had 3 HUGE cold sores on and around my lips. i waited 2 weeks and they didn't go away. i used pills and creams but nothing worked. I read here to use hydrogen peroxide and i figured what could i lose i already look horrible and i had 1 day befoe i was leaving to europe for 2 weeks. basically it works wonders! i had yellow puss dried up for about 5 days and it hadn't fallen off yet. the HP dissolved the dried puss and made it easier for me to pick off. some of the sores were still open so i put the hydrogen peroxide on( it burned like nothing else) it didn't puss over again it just dried out. now i have red skin but thats it. i can at least go out in public now"
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[YEA] 06/02/2009: Sarah from Cape Cod, MA writes: "Hydrogen Peroxide cleared up my cold sore in 48 hours. I was and AM sick of paying for Abreva, etc...when it takes over a week to do anything at all. I never suffered from cold sores until the age of 22, and since then they have been directly related to the change in my hormones prior to getting my period. So, from 22 until now (almost 3 years), I've almost consistently had to deal with the annoyance/pain/discomfort of them. So, in a desperate search for a better answer, I came to your website (which has helped me a lot in the past), and 48 hours later I'm 90% cleared up! It's amazing, it went from appearing, to drying, to scabbing, to healing in no time at all. Thanks so much everyone for your input!"
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[YEA] 09/22/2008: Shelly from Middlebury, Vermont writes: "I currently have an outbreak (the second one in 2 weeks) and I used peroxide on my second one after the first day. I didn't catch it in time but I'm finding that using the peroxide only 2 times has prevented it from really blistering and scabbing over too much. I popped the blister and drained it with a tissue and then used a qtip to dab it on a few times. It seems to take out the infection and dry it up faster. I'm going to continue applying peroxide every few hours and see how it works. I think if I'd have done this quicker, it wouldn't have blistered out quite so much. But it's less sightly than it would normally be."
[YEA] 01/27/2009: Lauren from Whitehorse, YT replies: "I have used peroxide for the last 3 years. Before that my doctor gave me this cream to put on but it didn't work. And abreva never worked for me either. And a family friend told me that she uses a needle to pop the little blisters, if its just forming and there are no little blisters visible, then she just poked holes in it, as much as she could stand, then she would use a q tip and dab on peroxide. It really works. I use the spray on peroxide myself. I prefer it, i just hold a Kleenex under the cold sore and spray it. And i keep spraying over and over until it stops foaming. And as for dieting to help, taking calcium pills will help. Also when its forming get some milk dip a cloth into it and press it against the cold sore, it should stop it from getting any bigger. The virus is always there, never gone, but it is contained by calcium like a big bubble, and when your stressed or sick, the walls of the bubble fade and weaken, then the virus gets out. So take lots of calcium! It does help. And any time i forget to take my pills, i get a damn cold sore!"
[BETTER BUT NOT CURED] 03/21/2009: K from Atlanta, GA replies: "Using peroxide on gential herpes at the sign of itching is a sure way of stopping the itch and speeding up the healing process. Have used it and it does work. Must try the other remedies I have read about."
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[YEA] 09/23/2007: Anne from Brooklyn, NY writes: "Hydrogen Peroxide is my no fail solution to a cold sore. I always rub on my entire lip area with a soaked cotton ball at any sign of tingle, the tingle goes away. The moment I have a cold sore, I drench it in the peroxide and I normally start scabbing in a day or two. It is the best remedy to an outbreak I have found!!!"
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[YEA] 05/28/2007: Renee from El Dorado, Kansas writes: "My vanity for white teeth found me reaching for the peroxide 16 years ago. A side affect was that I was no longer experiencing cold sores (approx 6 a year). My regime was brushing teeth, gums, and tongue with peroxide a couple times a week. When I forgot to do this, the tingling sensation of an outbreak reminded me to do the peroxide treatment and no cold sore surfaced. There have been a few times that I was out of peroxide and got the cold sore but it was gone within 2 days of getting peroxide and the sore was very mild. Apply directly in addition to brushing the entire mouth. I've had two cold sores in the last 15 years. The one during my divorce and the other after getting unjustly fired from my job. Both were mild attacks."
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[YEA] 03/17/2007: Lee from Salem, NH writes: "I have always used hydrogen peroxide for skin infections, insect bites, cankers, cold sores & deleting blood stains. Results are quick & inexpensive. I dab it on my finger, straight from the bottle, to apply to a cold sore or canker. I have never had a cold sore for more than a day. When I was a teenager, I also applied some to any pimples that might crop up."
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[YEA] 10/15/2006: Faith from Jamaica writes: "Just want to join in singing the praises of Hydrogen Peroxide (HP). I presented with vaginal ulcers. I call then that because even thought they looked like herpes i tested negative for the disease - so i really don't know what i had. However i visited your site and decided to try the HP topically to my genital bumps and.......almost immediate relief from the itching and soreness! and the bumps disappeared within three days or so. So i just wanted to add my little bit and thanks you for your great website! U can feel free to publish this on the site."
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[YEA] 04/17/2006: Alex writes: "It works; I started using it with the early symptoms, like five times a day. It stopped it from coming out."
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[YEA] AJ from Bamberg, SC writes: "I used to get outbreaks on my lip at least a couple times a year with an unsightly scab that lasted about a week. I went through a period where I got them once a month like clockwork and it gave me plenty of chances to try all the remedies. Here are things that DON'T work.... Lysine, Bleach, Lysol, Abreva.... Here is the one that works... As soon as there is a blister, poke it with a pin and drain it. Then soak a small tissue in Hydrogen Peroxide and hold the tissue in over the blister site for at least two hours. After doing this, I have only had 2 outbreaks in 5 years and both were kept so small, that they were not even visible to others and no scab to follow."
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[YEA] T from Raleigh, North Carolina writes: "I found that using hydrogen peroxide to clean the affected area helped to speed up the healing process for cold sores. It stings, but after doing this for two days, my cold sore healed quickly!"
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1 YEA
1 BETTER BUT NOT CURED
[YEA] Nancy from Phoenix, AZ writes: "I haven't tried this remedy yet but am and will keep you posted as soon as I find out the results...The remedy is DMSO and Hydrogen peroxide from a book called Never an Outbreak by William Fharel. This combo is supposed to kill the herpes virus in your body where it lays dormant ... so you NEVER break out again...I have had cold sores for years and those remedies with just the hydrogen peroxide or just some other remedy putting it on the cold sore and trying to stop the virus once it starts a break out doesn't work...I have tried everything there is but the DMSO and Hydrogen peroxide... According to the book, you will never get another break out again. That is a cure...not just getting rid of the lesions but the virus from your body totally...He also discusses that this also gets rid of the mole virus...yeah, I didn't know moles were viruses but I have them all over... Anyway, it is worth looking into... I welcome feedback from anyone who has done the DMSO and hydrogen peroxide therapy.."
[BETTER BUT NOT CURED] 08/18/2008: NONE YA BIZZ from FT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA replies: "HI I AM FROM FLORIDA AND I HAVE TRIED DMSO AND H2O2 BY MIXING TOGETHER AND PUTTING ON A VERY LARGE BANDAGE AND LEAVE FOR A FEW HOURS AT A TIME I HAVENT HAD A BREAK OUT YET BUT ITS ONLY BEEN ALMOST A MONTH AND I HAVE NOT YET BEEN TESTED AGAIN AND PLUS I DONT EVEN KNOW IF IM DOING IT RIGHT BUT I DO KNOW DMSO AND H2O2 IS LESS COSTLY ON THE INTERNET!!!!!!!!! I ALSO DOUCH WITH H2O2 TRY IT OF COURSE DILUTE IT ALOT AND USE 35% FOOD GRADE 3% AINT BOUT S--T I FEEL THIS IS THE FIRST STEP TO THE CURE BUT NEXT MONTH IM GETTING H2O2 THERAPY IN MILTON FL THE CONSULTATION IS 300 VERY EXPENSIVE I DONT YET KNOW THE COST OF THE ACTUAL PROCEDURE THAT CONSIST OF PUTTING H2O2 IN A IV WISH ME LUCK IF IT WORKS I WILL MAKE A WEB SIGHT FOR PEOPLE WHO SUFFER AND IT WILL BE FREE ONLY THE DEVIL WOULD MAKE MONEY OFF OF PEOPLES PAIN AND REMEMBER IT WILL BE CALLED THE FREE REAL CURE TO HERPES!!!!!!!!!"
02/19/2009: Rob from SRB, FL replies: "I have had a terrible time with Cold Sores on my lower lip. I noticed a couple of posts about the cure listed above. Is there anyway to contact these individuals about their results? Thanks in advance!"
EC: People generally don't send in their email addresses on herpes feedback. Best to leave your questions here in case they return!
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2 YEA
1 SIDE EFFECT
[YEA] 10/21/2006: Jason from Little Rock, AR writes: "I used lysine supplements already to cure HSV 1. I'd had some success using it and also used facial masks off and on to try to help clean my skin. I tried the combo of Hydrogen Peroxide and crushed lysine. This eliminated my symptoms almost instantly. After trying it and getting 7 hours sleep, my lesions were gone, healed and there wasn't a trace of anything on my face!! Highly recommended!"
[SIDE EFFECTS] 09/28/2008: Jay from San Francisco, California replies: "Today, i mixed the 3% Hydrogen Peroxide with L-lysine together to make a paste, then i applied it onto my cold sore, a few minutes later, my cold sore gets bigger and more red, any suggestions about whats going on and if its helping?"
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[YEA] 02/26/2006: Anonymous from Kansas City, Missouri writes: "To cure herpes break outs, simply crush lysine tablets up into powder, mix hydrogen peroxide with the powder, stir well, apply paste to lesions, the oxygen i the peroxide sinks deep in the skin to kill the virus, and the lysine acts as a "shield" to prevent it from coming back in the same spot, heals very rapidly. In order to kill the herpes virus, u must introduce oxygen into the blood, (or onto the affected area) oxygen will rid the virus. lysine helps with the destruction of the virus as well, and also keeps it in remission. Try this, this is guaranteed to work. also do a google search on BHT, (the next cure for herpes). BHT looks to be a breakthrough next to oxygen therapy."
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HYDROGEN PEROXIDE AND TEA TREE OIL
[YEA] 06/29/2008: Cassie from Augusta, GA writes: "ACV or Tea Tree Oil to cure cold sores.
I used ACV on a q-tip pressing firmly, and repeated several times throughout the day. This began to dry up the cold sore on my upper lip after only a few hours...however, it caused a bit of skin irritation around the area which kind of defeated the purpose (i have very sensitive skin). So the next day I switched to tea tree oil applied with a q-tip (making sure to use new q-tips for each application). Cold sore is almost completely dried and the irritation from the ACV is dissapearing."
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[YEA] 09/09/2006: Debra from Philadelphia, PA writes: "Cold sores/fever blisters I've been suffering with this problem over & over for quite some time and wasn't having any luck with the OTC stuff or Valtrax for that matter. I tried the H2O2 on its own & mixed with a crushed up L-Lysine tab (took FOREVER to crush into powder) the last time this happened but this time it seemed to come back stronger than ever. In a true moment of desperation I put 3 drops of Tea Tree Oil (TTO) into a dixie cup full of H2O2 grabbed some q-tips and (one by one never re-using) applied it to the cold sore over and over and over and over. I pressed the q-tip up against it hard and massaged it in. I swabbed my lips with it and the inside of my mouth. This process took about an hour but by the time I stopped the cold sore had gone from itching, oozing & weeping to white "bubbles" to dry crust/scab. I think I may start using TTO, baking soda & H2O2 as my new toothpaste and baking soda w TTO as my new "soap"!"
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HYDROGEN PEROXIDE INHALATION METHOD
[YEA] 06/23/2008: Carol from Greenville, USA writes: "I too have had coldsores all my life and am 50 yrs old now. I had a sore in the inside of my nose for 3 days , first I dapped peroxide.3% on the outside and the inside where I felt it sore and there was no change into the 3rd day. On the 3rd day I inhaled 3 or 4 puffs of a mix of half water and half .3% peroxide cheap Wal -Mart kind, from a 2 oz spray bottle that you can buy at Wal Mart for .50 in the toothpaste aisle where they have travel size items, and 2 hours later all the nose pain was GONE and no longer had a sore in my nose , it vanished. I also used Apple cider Vinegar the off brand at Wal- Mart GV . It's such a great value too, only $2.99 and I take the pinch or 1/4th tsp of Baking Soda and 2 TBLS of APPLE CIDER VINEGAR in 4 oz of COLD WATER and it has lowered my heartrate from 117 to 72.This has also lowered my BLOOD PRESSURE from to 112/60 I feel full of energy and I do this before I eat first thing in the morning and last thing at night. I sometimes take it at NOON for a pick me up. I no longer have acid reflux/ GERD. I sleep and breathe better as I have sleep apnea."
EC: Read more about the Hydrogen Peroxide Inhalation method here.
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1 YEA
[YEA] 02/01/2008: Rian from Portland, Oregon writes: "Everytime I get the tingle, or the first little hint of a blister on my lip. I get an Ice cube, stick it in a bag and hold it on the bump til it is totally disolved. Sometimes you may need to use 1-3 ice cubes. But it works without fail. ' The next morning, the cold sore is already gone. And usually the scab is small and gone in a day or two. This is the fasted way to stop em. Try it."
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ICE, RUBBING ALCOHOL, ALOE VERA
[YEA] 07/22/2008: Noel Nepomuceno from Palm Springs, CA writes: "Once you feel a tingling sensation and know that a cold sore is about to come out, ice it for ten minutes, put alcohol on the affected area, then put fresh aloe vera on it. Cold sore is a virus. Viruses do not like ice cold and therefore, ice puts them back to their dormancy. Alcohol is to kill the virus that's already on the skin. Aloe vera is to heal the wound. Repeat this procedure throughout the day, 3 to 4 x. The cold sore will not come out. If you did not catch it on time, you may still do this procedure and I can ssure you, the cold sore will not grow bigger. And in two to three days, the cold sore will be be gone."
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14 YEA
[YEA] 05/27/2009: ShantiM from Mogadoe, Ohio writes: "When I take one cap of 500mg a day of L Lysine, I never have an out-break. When I don't take it, I have an out-break about once every three months. I have been on and off the L Lysine for years. Now I take it daily and have not had an out-break of oral herpes for eight months. Some days I take only half a dose...it still works. I would suggest this cure for anyone who has oral herpes and I can't imagine not taking L Lysine everyday ever again."
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[YEA] 12/30/2008: Ali from San Diego, CA writes: "Best ways to preventing a cold sore: I used to get cold sore and at first I had no idea what they were, then the doctor started giving me a cream to put on it which I thought was useless. Then I read about Lysine, now Lysine is a life saver. I also came across this device called Virulite, which helped prevent cold sores from forming by targeting the immune system to fight it before an outbreak. So every time I get stressed from work or school, I take 6- 500mg of Lysine daily, I spread them out during the day. Also if I feel a cold sore or a burning sensation anywhere, that is where I use the machine. Hope this helps ;)"
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[YEA] 12/09/2008: Rodney from Charlotte, NC writes: "I heard about l-lysine for cold sores using the internet about 10 years ago. I tried it then and it did not work. This time L-Lysine closed my sore almost immediately. This time I took larger dosages. My sore was already opening on my lip when I started using Abreva. But Abreva(???no generic ointment name) is not that great once a sore starts.
Since discovering this site, I decided to use a larger dosage of the L-lysine and within 1.5 (one and one half days) the sore has closed up and is well on its way to disappearing. Even though Herpes I is widespread, it is very uncomfortable for me to deal with people's reaction to seeing an open sore on your lips.
Measurements:
I am a big guy. So this time I used 3 1000mg tablets every six hours for 2 days. And each day following the first 2 days, I will lower it 1000 mg until I am taking nothing.
I usally get sores around the holidays which is a very stressful time for me for some reason. Thanks so much!"
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[YEA] 08/24/2008: Al from Orlando, Fla writes: "This site is the best thing I have found! I was in complete depression after a wrestling sparring partner infected me with Herpes Gladiatorum (HSV1) on my neck and face. It was a nightmare and this site was my salvation. I have tried L-Lysine and it worked perfectly, even if I feel a new OB I just start taking 3K Mg daily it has been under control. In addition I use Hydrogen Peroxide and smash a L-Lysine Pill and put in my face.
The only problem right now is that even the sores are closed, the red marks/spots on my face and neck are still there even after more than two months of being diagnosed with HSV1! Sometimes it gets irritated when I shave, is this normal?? Can someone please recommend me what to do?"
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[YEA] 04/01/2008: Jodi from AV, Minn writes: "L-LYSINE Keep it simple - you feel the tingle - take (2000 to 3000mg) lysine asap! then (2000 to 3000mg) 3 times a day -for 2 days. Day 3 reduce to (1000 to 1500mg) 3 times a day. Day 4 (1000 to 1500mg) 3 times a day. Day 5 & day 6 (500mg) 3 times a day. Your Done! You will either have no outbreak or only a day or two with a very small blister with this treatment.
Also note: L-LYSINE is an amnio acid not a vitamin. Do not take Lysine for long extended periods or mega dose as it can have negative effect on the liver. For mega dosing you may want to have your liver checked out. I have done this for 20 years with great success. I do not take it any other time.
Tip: For traveling back and forth - cold to warm climates, or after viruses, or muscle exersions all of which can trigger coldsores as well as large doses of stress. Take 1000mg for a week to help keep them away."
12/12/2008: Michelle from Minneapolis, MN replies: "I thought you were supposed to take L-Lysine everyday, which is what i've been doing for a year, as a preventative. I'm glad to finally figure this out.
I used to get cold sores at least every other month when I was a student. They were brought on by stress, and also seemed connected to my period. Acyclovir works for me but I have to double dose and also use abreva and carmex.
I started taking a Vitamin B-complex, Sunmark's Stress Vitamins, daily. I was also taking L-Lysine with this, which I will now quit. It greatly reduced the frequency and duration of my outbreaks. I get them 3 time a year now, compared to at least 6 and they are usually really small and last no more than 3 or 4 days.
I have a tiny one right now, it looks more like a little zit above my lip. But I am excited to go home and start the L-Lysine regiment now that I know the appropriate way to do it.
Symptoms will get better with time for a lot of people. It's important to track your behaviors and habits closely so you can know the triggers and if you've never used it before i highly recommend acyclovir from your dr. Take about 4 right when you feel the tingle and then 2 more that day and it will knock it out before it even becomes a cold sore."
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[YEA] 09/23/2007: Sue from Waukesha, WI writes: "Ever since I was a child I would get really bad cold sores on my lips. about eighteen years ago a co-worker told me about L-lysine. I bought some and as soon as I would feel the tingling like one was starting I'd take 2-3 L-lysine and later in the day 2 more and the next day only 3. And the cold sore wouldn't form or come out. For about a year I'd take it only when I felt one coming and a day or two. For about 14 years I haven't had one cold sore! A miracle!"
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